Mixer Question?

[Danny_DT]

Hey guys, haven't been here in over a year, but then I remembered about this place after lots of thinking

So my question is, if you've got a Behringer Xenyx 12 Channel mixer, and a Behringer U-CONTROL UCA202 USB-Audio Interface to connect my mixer to my PC.

If I'm recording drums, I'd have to use about 5 of the inputs, so when I connect my mixer to the interface, would I be able to record track by track, or would it record all into one track?

Am I on the right track?

Thanks in advance,
Danny

 

[gcapel]

To be able to edit each track individually in software you would use the inserts on each channel of the mixer to output to the your usb interface inputs.

You could use the main stereo output from the mixer into two inputs on your interface but you dont have the editing capability because it is pre mixed.

I don't know much about your interface but after you record your isolated tracks to your pc, you can take it another step further and output the tracks from you interface back to inputs on your mixer so that you can have both software editing capability and analog mixing with outboard capability.

Have fun,

 

[Danny_DT]

That cleared up a little, however..

The Xenyx mixers, just have like 4 XLR Channels, that have a 1/4 input as well. The rest are all mono 1/4 inputs, so in regards to hooking up mics, I'd just use XLR to 1/4.

I don't think I explained quite well, but what I want to do is have a mic on the snare/bass/toms, and then bring it into Audition, and there add compression and EQ it. I don't wanna do it on the mixer, I just want the mixer so I can use more than 1 mic to record the drums.

Also, the USB Interface isn't one of those big 8 channel computer interfaces; its just got an RCA in and out, so you can connect the mixer to the USB interface, then the interface to the PC.

 

[GuptRX]

i think the go with those behringer interfaces is it sends the same signal you would get from the main outs, via the RCA out to ur comp. so in ur program all you would have is the two master channels, not each individual track. thats what turned me off gettin one of them, all the mixing needs to be done at the board, before sending to the computer.

cheers

GuptRX

 

[Danny_DT]

Oh man, there goes all my hopes and dreams

Thanks though guys, but what would you suggest is a better and cheaper way to go?

A computer interface?

Also, is there anyway a mixer can record, and can produce isolated tracks onto my PC?

 

[mattr]

To be honest the UCA202 shouldn't really be called an audio interface
I doubt if its any better than a built-in soundcard. Its a 2-in, 2-out on RCA jacks, USB thingy!

The Xenyx mixers, just have like 4 XLR Channels, that have a 1/4 input as well. The rest are all mono 1/4 inputs, so in regards to hooking up mics, I'd just use XLR to 1/4.

Not really. The 1/4" jacks probably don't have mic preamps and so won't be able to provide enough gain on the input, or if they can be gained high then they will probably be much noisier.


Unfortunately for your wallet, an 8-channel interface is really the only way forward.
You can get mixers with built-in multi-channel interfaces, but these are generally a lot more expensive anyway and if you're just using it as an interface then why do you need the mixer?

 

[gcapel]

Oh man, there goes all my hopes and dreams


Also, is there anyway a mixer can record, and can produce isolated tracks onto my PC?

Nothing is cheap I am afraid. Even if you buy entry level gear you will still need all the basic essentials to achieve something.

There are a few mixers out there now with interface options available. The mackie onyx has a firewire option. Of coarse you have to buy the mixer + the option board + a firewire card if you have a PC.

They also make some 8 channel pre units with the firewire or usb option, like the Presonus firestudio. Which is all you would really need to mix in the PC (mix in the box). $500.00

http://www.presonus.com/products/Detail.aspx?ProductId=5

 

[Danny_DT]

Thanks for all the help guys, I'm going to do a bit more reading.

What about firewire mixers?

The Heath and Allen 14 channel Zed seems pretty decent, around 400 bucks, but then again a Firepod costs that...minus 6 channels though.

 

[Simbo]

I believe the A-H Zed14 is USB only, not firewire, which will only give you 2 channels to record, main left and main right.

PreSonus FP10 10x10 FireWire Interface (Firepod) are down to $399.00 and has 8 mic inputs with preamps, to allow 8 tracks to be recorded at once, using mics